Siemens has strengthened its position as a leading provider in the rail infrastructure sector by acquiring MRX Technologies
Founded and headquartered in Perth with an office in Derby (UK), MRX has been offering services in Australia and the UK for manufacturers and operators of rail systems including the mining sector.
“By bringing MRX Technologies into the Siemens family we not only strengthen our capability and offering to the rail industry but we also have the ability to take that business to a global level,” claims Jeff Connolly, CEO of Siemens Australia and New Zealand.
“This acquisition makes a lot of sense in a time when digitalization technologies are key to unlocking productivity gains – that is getting more out of existing rail infrastructure and adding intelligence to existing rail infrastructure.
“I’ve recently spent time at our hi-tech rail data services centre near Munich where customers in Russia, Bangkok, the UK and Spain to name a few are seeing incredible results through intelligent data.
“MRX Technologies is a home-grown business that complements our existing data services business.”
Siemens has invested in several Australian companies and grown them into international business including Fusesaver, the world’s fastest vacuum circuit breaker used to increase reliability of rural electricity networks, developed in Queensland and now being exported by Siemens to over 20 countries, including most recently the UK.
“We have the opportunity to take Australian innovation in rail digitalization and participate in global value chains,” Connolly maintains.
“But this also takes the right partnerships to bring this to life and take it to the next level.
“That’s exactly what Siemens will do with this acquisition via our global network of operations and customers in over 200 countries.”
“This acquisition firmly cements our strength in providing world-class rail service locally and reiterates our commitment to helping operators increase the efficiencies of current and new rail assets.”
The acquisition further expands Siemens’ offering in the field of predictive maintenance based on digitalization – a capability that has proven global results in increasing rail availability and throughput, enabling operators to achieve maximum value from existing assets.
MRX Technologies has a comprehensive portfolio for digitalized condition monitoring of rolling stock components and rail infrastructure. It delivers extensive measurement data used to optimize the maintenance of rail systems and make them more cost-efficient
“From the use and application of 3D printing to reduce rail repair times to unique platforms that connect disparate systems together for the first time, Siemens has been pushing the boundaries of rail innovation in Australia,” Connolly claims.
“The MRX Technologies acquisition will enable us to bring in an added layer of digitalization and data analytics that help create intelligent infrastructure for our businesses and communities.”
The predictive maintenance of rolling stock and rail infrastructure is gaining importance as operators today demand 100 per cent availability of their rolling stock and infrastructure, since failures cost money, cause delays and the annoyance of passengers, transport purchasers and freight customers.
Rail operators are increasingly shifting responsibility for maintenance to the rolling stock manufacturers.
As a result, orders for new rolling stock are often coupled with long-term maintenance contracts, at times extending to the end of the planned
system life cycle.
Siemens holds a leading position in the rail industry for supplying rolling stock, infrastructure and services from a single source.
“Our goal is to offer our customers even higher system availability,” says Jim Blair, shareholder and managing director of MRX Technologies.
“With this acquisition, we are combining the digitalization of service-relevant data with the data analytics system and expertise of Siemens that is unique in the industry.
“Together, we will lead the rail industry into the digital future,” Blair promises.
Siemens has a hub of expertise in Australasia as a result of Adelaide and Auckland choosing the European Train Control System (ETCS) for their rail networks.
The work done by Siemens on the Auckland rail electrification and re-signalling project has helped safely unlock the capacity to allow the average of 20 per cent year-on-year increase in train patronage in the city over a period of two years.
This hub of experts is now delivering projects in Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the UK.
